Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Wars and ConflictsΒ  permalink

The End of World War I

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by Miss_C_1982 (U2621579) on Monday, 5th December 2005

  Why did they end world war 1?
  
  (Questions I am posting at the moment are from the students in my Yr9 history class. Thanks to all who reply.)

  Link to this forum: The End of World War I

  Report message1

• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by faran1 (U2570961) on Monday, 5th December 2005

  Dont forget that untill 1918 both sides were tired.And the money for the war effort was over for all sides so that is tthe reason

  Link to this forum: The End of World War I

  Report message2

• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Plancenoit (U1237957) on Monday, 5th December 2005

  Its a bit of a long complicated answer to that question, but until 1917 Germany had been fighting Russia in the east, and France, Britain and her Allies in the West. The revolution in Russia brought about the end of the war in the east, which freed up more German troops to fight in the west. However, the intervention of the USA when they joined with France and Britain drastically altered the balance of things against Germany who were already worn down by years of fighting. There was a serious danger that the Allies would break through German lines and possibly even make it to Berlin. The only sensible option was for Germany to surrender.

  Link to this forum: The End of World War I

  Report message3

• Message 4

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by TimTrack (U1730472) on Monday, 5th December 2005

  The economic blockade of Germany and Austro-Hungary led to a collapse on their home fronts. That, combined with the threat of increased US troop levels meant that the Germans realised that there was no longer any hope of continuing the military effort successfully.
  
  WW1 was a war of attrition. They MIGHT have won without US troops, though that is a highly debatable point.

  Link to this forum: The End of World War I

  Report message4

• Message 5

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Mark (U1347077) on Monday, 5th December 2005

  Further to earlier answers, with Russia out of the war, Germany had enough manpower for one last attack in the west before American manpower became overwhelming. This failed and Germany was constantly pushed back through the summer and autumn of 1918. Together with the shortages and riots in Germany itself, once the formidable Hindenburg Line was easily penetrated, Germany sought an honorable peace. Austria-Hungary and Turkey were no longer an effective fighting force following defeats on all fronts.
  
  The Armistice of 1918 was only an argreement to stop fighting and Germany did not envisage the harshness of the 1919 Treaty of Versailles. However, once the fighting stopped, the army pretty much disintegrated - although the Allies continued the naval blockade, thereby allowing people to starve in Germany. There was a left wing putsch in Munich - essentially an attempt to form Communist state of Bavaria. Germany was therefore unable to do anything but accept the humiliating peace of Versailles.

  Link to this forum: The End of World War I

  Report message5

Back to top